Maca Root
Maca is a radish-looking root that grows 13,000 feet up in the Peruvian Andes, where almost nothing else will. People there have been eating it for at least 2,000 years. In herbalism it's an adaptogen and tonic, traditionally used to support energy, stamina, libido and a balanced mood, especially when you're running on empty. It's earthy, malty and a little like butterscotch, and it's the original libido herb.
Find it in:
- Botanical nameLepidium meyenii
- Plant familyBrassicaceae (mustard & cabbage family)
- Also calledPeruvian ginseng, Andean ginseng
- Part usedDried, powdered root
- TasteEarthy, nutty and malty, with a hint of butterscotch
- CaffeineNone
Traditional Uses & Folklore
Food from the roof of the world
Maca is one of the few crops that can grow on the cold, windy high plateaus of the central Peruvian Andes. It has been cultivated there for at least 2,000 years. Andean families dry the roots and cook them into porridge, bake them into breads and ferment them into a drink called maca chicha.
Fuel for warriors and fertility
Legend says Inca warriors ate maca before battle for strength and stamina. After the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, colonists noticed their livestock struggled to breed at high altitude and were advised to feed them maca. Andean people have long used it to support fertility and vitality in both people and animals.
The original libido root
In traditional Andean herbalism, maca is a tonic for energy, endurance, mood and desire. Its reputation as a libido-boosting root traveled with it around the world, and today it's one of the best-known herbs for sexual vitality.
The scienceWhat Modern Research Is Exploring
Maca has a small but growing body of human research. Here's what researchers are looking at:
- Desire. Several small clinical trials have looked at maca and sexual desire, with encouraging early results.
- Mood and energy. Researchers have explored maca in connection with mood, energy and wellbeing, including during menopause.
- Fertility. Studies, mostly in men and in animals, have explored maca's traditional role in fertility.
We share this to show where the conversation is going, not to make promises. Herbalism is slow medicine, built on ritual, consistency, and how a plant feels in your own body.
From Tea LadyWhy Maca Is in Our Blends
Maca is our spark. In Sweet Spot Powder and Peppermint Pleasure Cocoa, it's long known in traditional South American herbalism as a libido-boosting root. Earthy and grounding, it's been used for generations to feel more alive, energized, sensitive and connected to your own pleasure.
Sip mindfullySafety & Who Should Check First
Maca is a traditional food and is generally considered safe in food-sized amounts. A few things to keep in mind:
- Hormone-sensitive conditions. Check with your healthcare provider before using maca if you have a hormone-sensitive condition or take hormonal medication.
- Thyroid. Maca is in the cabbage family and naturally contains compounds that may affect the thyroid, especially when raw. Check with your healthcare provider if you have a thyroid condition.
- Pregnancy. There isn't enough research on maca in pregnancy. Check with your healthcare provider if you're pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
Sources & Further Reading
- Gonzales GF. "Ethnobiology and ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (maca), a plant from the Peruvian highlands." Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012; 2012: 193496.
- Shin BC, Lee MS, Yang EJ, Lim HS, Ernst E. "Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review." BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2010; 10: 44.